What Bitcoin Did BITCOIN: A TROJAN HORSE FOR FREEDOM w/ Alex Gladstein
Apr 24, 2025
Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, advocates for Bitcoin as a tool for human rights and financial freedom. He discusses whether government adoption threatens Bitcoin's original mission, highlighting its role as a 'Trojan horse for freedom.' The conversation dives into Bitcoin's transformative potential in oppressive regimes like Ukraine, the ethical dilemmas of stolen coins, and the challenges posed by international financial institutions. Gladstein emphasizes the importance of electricity as a human right and the geopolitical dynamics of cryptocurrency adoption.
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Bitcoin's Freedom Power Endures
- Bitcoin thrives as a freedom tool despite adoption by governments and corporations.
- Its power lies in permissionless use, preventing censorship and empowering individuals.
Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance Launch
- Alex Gladstein recounts launching the Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance in London.
- The Alliance unites 12 diverse organizations using Bitcoin operationally for human rights and humanitarian work.
Nation-State Adoption Signals Success
- Bitcoin's success requires adoption by nation states and institutions.
- This mainstream acceptance signals growth, not a betrayal of Bitcoin's freedom mission.
